Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles
Increasing Access to Renewable Energy
by and -The Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles frame the challenges and common needs faced by large renewable energy buyers.
As of January 2017, 65 companies have signed on, representing over 48 million MWh of annual demand by 2020, equivalent to powering 4.4 million American homes with clean, renewable energy.
Corporate signatories developed these principles to spur progress on resolving the challenges they face when buying renewable energy, and to add their perspective to the future of the U.S. energy and electricity system. WRI and WWF facilitated their efforts. For the latest on this initiative, visit buyersprinciples.org.
Key Findings
Executive Summary
Sixty percent of the largest U.S. businesses have set public climate and energy goals to increase their use of renewable energy. Companies are setting these goals because reducing energy use and using renewable energy have become core elements of business and sustainability strategies.
Businesses are actively and successfully adding renewable energy to their facilities and increasingly entering into contracts to buy or invest in offsite renewable energy. Even though cost-effective project opportunities exist, with billions of kilowatt hours still needed to meet their renewable energy goals, businesses face a variety of challenges accessing cost-effective projects on favorable terms.
We hope these principles will open up new opportunities, choices and collaborations that will help businesses meet their public goals to increase the use of renewable energy. We encourage others to join us, supporting these principles to expand and streamline the opportunities for renewable energy procurement.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for over half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and keep up with the latest conservation news by following @WWFNews on Twitter.
World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization that spans more than 50 countries, with offices in the United States, China, India, Brazil, and more. Our more than 450 experts and staff work closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action to sustain our natural resources—the foundation of economic opportunity and human well-being.